How did he become a disciple of Lord Dattatreya himself?

How did he become a disciple of Lord Dattatreya himself?

For centuries, a mystery has resonated in the sacred valleys of the Himalayas. A secret that millions of devotees accept with devotion. But even today very few people know its depth. It is said that in Kaliyuga, the divine part of Lord Shiva incarnated on earth in the form of a child yogi and the same child yogi was later worshipped in the world by the name of Baba Balaknath. But the question is that if he was really a part of Shiva then why did he need to be born as a human being? What was the purpose of his incarnation? And what was that divine mystery that had kept him away from the worldly temptations since childhood. It is said that when he was of playing age, he set out in search of self-knowledge. But this path was not easy. During this journey he met that divine Guru who is considered to be the combined form of the Trinity itself. Lord Dattatreya, what happened that Lord Dattatreya himself accepted him as his disciple? What knowledge was imparted to him, to attain which even RC Muni continued to do penance for years. From here begins that amazing story where penance does not remain just a sadhana but becomes the door to divinity. It is believed that due to the effect of this penance, Baba Balaknath received the blessings of Ashta Siddhis and Navanidhi. But he never used these powers for himself. Each of his resolutions was for one purpose only. Public welfare, protection of religion and welfare of devotees. Then enters this story of a great devotee whose name became immortal in history. Maharatna, but who was she in whose house Shivansh Baba Balaknath himself served for 12 years? Was it just following the Guru’s orders? Or behind this was hidden such a secret of karma, devotion and dedication which even today remains an inspiration for millions of people. And finally we will reach the place where countless devotees come every year to pay their obeisance. Dat Siddha devotees believe that this is not just a temple but the divine abode of Baba Balaknath. Where he still resides in subtle form and listens to the calls of his devotees. Is it just faith or is there some secret hidden behind it which even time has not been able to reveal till date? So today let us open the door to the mysteries of Baba Balaknath’s life which contain the secret of his divine birth, the amazing journey of renunciation, the invaluable company of Lord Dattatreya, the attainment of Ashta Siddhi and Navnidhi. The unique service of Maha Ratnas and the secret of Dat Siddha Paramdham, after knowing which perhaps your faith will become deeper than ever before because this is not just the story of a saint it is the story of that divine power which has been guiding its devotees since ages.

Mount Kailash stood in its white glory beyond time and space, wrapped in the milky sheet of the Milky Way. It was not just a mountain but the center of consciousness of the universe. Where Mahakal Lord Shiva himself was absorbed in meditation. There was a supernatural peace around him that was more intense than the brightness of millions of suns. But today there was a subtle movement in that peace. This commotion was not outside but in the minds of those accomplished yogis and sages who were doing penance in the presence of Shiva. The penance of ages had given him immense powers but along with those powers a subtle ego had also taken birth within him. He started feeling that he was the highest peak of penance and yoga. Omniscient Shiva sensed this feeling of his with his closed eyes. His trance was broken. When he opened his eyes, everything in the universe stopped for a moment. Seeing the sages standing in front of him with folded hands, a mysterious smile appeared on his face. In his serious and compassionate voice he said, O sages, your penance is commendable, but the ocean of knowledge is boundless. When there is a feeling of ownership over knowledge, it no longer becomes knowledge but pride. Humanity on earth needs a ray of light that can show the path of sacrifice, selflessness, service and true devotion. A yogi who has been detached from worldly pursuits since childhood and whose exploits inspire devotees for ages. Shiva’s voice echoed in every particle of Kailash. He created a soul from his divine part. A soul that combined the renunciation of Shiva, the compassion of Vishnu and the knowledge of Brahma. That soul appeared in the form of a divine beam of light. Shiva blessed him. Go son, take birth on earth, your name will be Balak because you will be accomplished from the very beginning of childhood and you will be called Nath because you will be the Nath of all Yogis. Your Leelas will keep the flag of Dharma flying high in Kaliyuga. That divine light took leave from Kailash and started moving towards the earth. On a mission whose aim was to free humanity from ego and bring it on the simple path of devotion.

It is said that one day the wheel of time turned and that divine soul descended on the holy land of Kathiawar, Gujarat on the western coast of India. Pandit Vishnu and his religious wife Lakshmi lived in a small village near Junagadh. He was childless and there was a void in his eyes. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and wished for a child every day. One night Lakshmi saw Mount Kailash and Lord Shiva in her dream. Who gave him a bright child in his lap and said, this is my part, take care of him. When Lakshmi opened her eyes, her heart was filled with joy and wonder. After some time, his lap was filled. A son was born in their house whose face had a supernatural glow. Her eyes looked as if they held all the secrets of the universe. His parents named him Dev. Dev was different from other children since childhood. He was neither interested in toys nor in sports. He would often sit alone and gaze at the sky with his small eyes. As if you are talking to some invisible power. Just by his presence, a strange peace and positivity had settled in the house. A wonderful thing happened. Pandit Vishnu had a cow which did not give milk. The family’s financial condition was already weak and the cow’s infertility was another matter of concern. One day, while playing, child Dev reached the cowshed and he ran his little hand on the back of the cow. At that very moment the cow’s udders filled with milk and she started mooing. Pandit Vishnu and Lakshmi were stunned to see this miracle. He became convinced that his son was not an ordinary child but an angel sent by God himself.

As Dev grew up, his sense of detachment became more pronounced. He would sit in meditation for hours. The words that came out of his mouth were very deep and full of knowledge. The people of the village looked at him with surprise. They could not understand how this little boy could say such deep things. They called him Balak and addressed him as Nath because of his knowledge. In this way his name became famous as Balaknath. His parents wanted to bind him in worldly bonds. But he knew that the sky cannot be captured in the fist. Balaknath’s heart beat for the heights of Kailash and the welfare of humanity. He knew he was born for a greater purpose. The four walls of the house were a bondage for him and he was looking for an opportunity to break free from that bondage. Time was passing slowly but the crisis of poverty was deepening on Pandit Vishnu’s family and one day the time came when Pandit Vishnu was completely drowned in debt. One day with a heavy heart he took a tough decision. He mortgaged his beloved son to a rich businessman Baba Ratna for just a few rupees. This decision was like placing a stone on his heart. But he was helpless in the face of compulsion. Balaknath understood the pain of his parents and agreed to go with the merchant without any protest. There was neither any complaint nor any sadness in his eyes. He was considering this also as a game of destiny.

The businessman Baba Ratna brought Balaknath to his house and assigned him the task of grazing his cows. Balaknath used to go to the forest with the cows every day, but instead of grazing the cows, he would get engrossed in meditation under a tree. His presence had such an impact that the cows would neither enter anyone’s fields nor wander here and there. She would sit peacefully around them and climb the grass. As if they too were partners in the penance of that little yogi. This sequence continued for several months. The villagers complained to Baba Ratna, your shepherd sleeps the whole day. His cows are destroying our crops. Baba Ratna got angry. One day he went towards the forest fuming with anger. To see what the matter is all about? When he reached there he saw that Balaknath was meditating under the tree and all his cows had entered the nearby fields and climbed the standing crops. Baba Ratna’s anger reached the seventh sky. As soon as he extended his hand to lift Balaknath, his eyes widened with surprise. The fields which he had seen desolate a moment ago were now greener and lusher than before. Not a single plant was broken. It was a miracle. The rich businessman could not believe his eyes. He rubbed his eyes but the scene was there. He understood that this was no ordinary child. He fell at the feet of Balaknath and started begging for forgiveness. Balaknath opened his eyes and said in a calm voice, Baba, it is not your fault. My time here is over. Now I have to move forward on my real path. At that very moment Balaknath left that place.

Now there was only one passion in his heart. Searching for a Guru who can take them to the highest state of Yoga. Which can make them realize their true nature. He knew that his destination was none other than Lord Dattatreya himself, who was the combined incarnation of the Trinity, i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. He set out barefoot, without any support, in search of that divine Guru. There were many difficulties on the way but his steps did not falter. His journey brought him to the sacred mountains of Girnar, the abode of Siddhas and Yogis. There, in the middle of a dense forest, he experienced a divine aura. He saw that under a huge banyan tree, Lord Dattatreya, whose face had the radiance of the three worlds, was absorbed in meditation. Around him sat the Shanas, which are considered symbols of the Vedas. Balaknath bowed down to Dattatreya. Dattatreya opened his eyes. Looking at them it seemed as if two oceans were meeting each other. Dattatreya already knew the purpose of Balaknath’s arrival. He said smilingly, come Siddha Yogi, I was waiting for you only. You are a part of Shiva. Your path is self-illuminated. Nevertheless, for the welfare of the people, it is necessary to maintain the Guru-disciple tradition. Lord Dattatreya accepted Balaknath as his disciple. He imparted to him the guiding teachings of Yoga, Tantra and spirituality. He made Balaknath aware of his inner powers and blessed him to become a Siddha. After getting the company of the Guru, Balaknath’s brilliance became even more intense. Now he had become not just Balaknath but Siddha Baba Balaknath. Guru Dattatreya ordered him, now you go towards the north. The shoulders of the Himalayas are waiting for you. Do penance there and use your powers for the welfare of humanity. One of your major places will be established in the land of Himachal which will become the center of faith for the devotees for ages to come.

Following the orders of his Guru, Baba Balaknath took leave from Girnar and started his great journey towards the Himalayas. A new chapter of Baba Balaknath’s rigorous penance began in the snowy peaks, dense forests and secluded valleys of the Himalayas. He completely renounced worldly pleasures. They lived by eating roots and tubers and drinking water from springs. Sometimes he would meditate sitting on a rock in the scorching sun and sometimes he would meditate in icy caves in the severe cold. His penance was so severe that even nature bowed before him. Wild animals would come and sit quietly near him. As if he were their protector. Through this continuous penance of many years, he attained Ashti Siddhis and Navnidhis. He could assume a form smaller than an atom and bigger than a mountain. He could go anywhere at the speed of his mind. His fame gradually started spreading everywhere. Sad, sick and suffering people started coming to him from far and wide. Once a king who was suffering from leprosy, disappointed from everywhere, came to the shelter of Baba Balaknath. His body smelled bad and no one would even wander near him. Baba looked at him with compassion and took a pinch of ashes from his stick and gave it to him. As soon as the king applied that ash on his body, his body started shining like gold. His disease was eradicated completely. The king offered his entire kingdom at Baba’s feet. But Baba politely refused it and said, O King, use this kingdom for the service of the people. For a yogi, the entire universe is his home.

There is another similar story. There had been no rain in an area for years. The earth had split. The crops had dried up and people were craving for every drop of water. Desperate the villagers approached Baba Balaknath. Baba closed his eyes and went into meditation. Within a few moments, dark clouds gathered in the sky and it started raining heavily. Streams of water started flowing in the dry rivers and the earth once again became covered with a blanket of greenery. People hailed Baba. His growing fame became a cause of jealousy for some other yogis and tantrics. He decided to challenge Baba’s powers. A famous Tantrik created a terrible storm with his tantric knowledge and sent it towards Baba’s hut. When the storm reached Baba’s hut, Baba simply picked up his tongs and hit the ground three times. The blow of the tongs released such energy that the terrible storm immediately calmed down and returned back towards the same Tantrik. The Tantrik, being a victim of his own knowledge, fell at the feet of Baba and started asking for forgiveness. Baba forgave him too because he had no hatred for anyone in his heart. He did not stay at one place for long. He kept travelling continuously. Enjoy your wealth and do good to the people. His journey took him through Punjab to Himachal Pradesh. They reached a place called Shahad Talai which is still an important pilgrimage site. This was where the biggest test of his life was to take place. An ordeal that was to become the most famous chapter of his life.

A religious woman named Mai Ratna lived in Shahtalai. She was childless and there was a deep emptiness in her devotion. One day she saw the brilliant yogi Balaknath and was deeply impressed by his divine form. Affection overflowed in his heart. She went to Baba and folded her hands and said, O Yogi, please purify my house and reside with me. I want to serve you. I will treat you like my son. Baba Balaknath, who considered every woman as a form of mother, was moved by her devotion. But he was willing to stay on his own terms. He said, O forehead, I will stay at your place for 12 years and graze your cows. In return you will only give me a place to stay and food. But I have a condition. In these 12 years you will never enter my hut or cave without permission. Where I meditate. The day you break this condition, I will leave this place at that very moment. Mai Ratna gladly accepted this condition. He felt that a yogi needed solitude. There is nothing big in this. In this way Baba Balaknath started living at Mai Ratna’s place as a servant of her cows. He would take the cows for grazing every day and in return, Mai Ratna would lovingly make thick rotis and feed them every day. This sequence continued. Baba would graze cows during the day and at night would indulge in deep meditation in his hut. Slowly 11 years and a few months passed. There was no lack in the service of Mai Ratna. But a doubt started taking root in his mind. The women around her would taunt her. Ratnas, what kind of blind devotion are you doing? What kind of yogi is this who grazes cows all day and hides in a cave at night? Is he some hypocrite? You give it to eat. But do you even know whether he eats it or not? These things started poisoning Ratna’s mind. A veil of doubt began to fall on his devotion.

One day his curiosity and doubt broke his vow. She thought that today I will secretly watch what this Yogi does with the rotis given by me. That day when she went to Baba’s hut with bread for him, she tiptoed behind his hut and started peeping inside through a crack. What he saw made the ground slip from under his feet. Baba was sitting in meditation and had broken all the rotis of the last 12 years with his tongs and made a pile. They were offering those rotis to their music. Were offering it to Agnidev. My Ratnas realized their mistake. He understood that this was not an ordinary human being but God himself who did not need any food. He was only respecting his devotion. Burning in the fire of repentance, she forgot her promise and went straight inside the hut door and said crying, Lord, forgive me. I made a big mistake. I doubted you. As soon as the gems entered inside, Baba Balaknath opened his eyes. There was a feeling of sadness and detachment in his eyes. He said in a calm voice, Forehead, you have broken your promise. Now my time here is over. Saying this, Baba Balaknath got up from his seat. The gems tried to stop them. But they slipped from his grasp like a gust of wind. They ran towards their cave which was on a nearby hill. Ratna ran after them crying. Baba entered the cave. When Ratna reached there she saw that the mouth of the cave was closed by a huge rock. She started crying, banging her head on the rock. Lord, please appear before me once. Please forgive me. Then a voice came from inside the cave. That was the voice of Baba Balaknath only. Don’t cry forehead. I am not unhappy with you. This was destiny. Your 12 years of service will not go in vain. Your courtyard will always be filled with the power of your devotion. Every 12 years your lineage vine will keep growing. But to respect my vow of celibacy, from today onwards no woman will enter this cave of mine. They will be able to see me only from outside. I am disappearing from this cave and appearing on the other side of the hill where my permanent residence will be. Saying this, Baba Balaknath disappeared from that cave and appeared in another cave on the top of the hill. That place is today known as Dadas Siddha which is the most prominent and awakened pilgrimage site of Baba Balaknath. Mother Ratna kept sitting there and repenting. Even today there is a temple of Mai Ratna in Shah Talai and devotees first bow their heads there. Then we visit Datta Siddha. This leela is the supreme example of Baba’s celibacy and commitment. It is said that since then that cave of Datta Siddha became the permanent residence of Baba Balaknath. It was here that he cultivated his voice, which continues to burn uninterrupted even today. This sound is not just a source of fire but a symbol of Baba’s living presence. Its ashes have amazing power to cure diseases and eliminate sufferings.

The fame of Baba Balaknath had now spread in all directions. Lakhs of devotees from Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and from the country and abroad started coming to see him. They would come with their wishes and with Baba’s blessings their bags would be filled. The method of worshipping Baba is also very simple and pure. Devotees offer them bread made of flour, jaggery and ghee which symbolizes devotion to the Maya Ratnas. Male goats i.e. bakras are considered to be the servants of Baba. Move freely around the temple complex. There is no place for the practice of sacrifice here. This creature is the center of mercy and compassion. Inside the cave there is a grand statue of Baba sitting in meditation posture. His face has the same childlike charm, innocence and the glow of a yogi. As per the promise given to Mai Ratna, even today women do not enter the cave. She has darshan of Baba from a high platform. Which is a unique example of Baba’s respect for women power and the firmness of his promise. Baba Balaknath never wrote any treatise nor gave any complex teachings. His life itself was his message. Sacrifice, penance, selfless service, commitment and simple devotion are the essence of his philosophy. He teaches that to attain God one needs a true heart and not pomp. It is said that Baba Balaknath is still present in his cave in subtle form. He is immortal. He is immortal. Even today he listens to the calls of his devotees and relieves them of their troubles. His miracles still happen today. I don’t know how many childless people have got the happiness of having children due to his grace. How many patients have been given life and how many lost people have found the right path. Even when the doors of the temple are closed in the silence of the night, the faint sound of anklets and the invisible voice of Jai Bap Ji keeps echoing in the hills of Datta Siddha. This is the feeling of Baba’s presence. The smoke rising from their sound merges into the sky and gives the message that as long as this sound continues to burn. As long as even a single lamp of faith burns in the hearts of devotees, the blessings of Siddha Yogi Baba Balaknath will continue to shower on this world. His story is not just the story of a yogi. This is a saga of the power of faith, the simplicity of devotion and the glory of renunciation. This is the story of the divine garden that ran from Kailash. To show the path to humanity and even today sitting in a cave in Himachal near his eternal treasure, he is engaged in penance for the welfare of entire humanity. His life is an inspiration. There is a belief.